The gardens is such a beautiful place to take a walk. You will have a great time seeing beautiful plants. I come here all the time to take a walk and I also take pictures of the flowers. read more

When I was a kid, we had a Sunday tradition in my family. On beautiful Sunday mornings, my parents and grandmother would pile my brother and I into the car, along with any house-guests (we always had a few staying with us at any given time) and any random sampling of aunts, uncles and cousins to head out for dim-sum or some other Chinese breakfast/brunch around 11am. By 1pm, after we had consumed enough food to feed all of Latveria for a month, we would waddle to the cars, and head over to Brookside Gardens to walk off the 500,000 calories we had each consumed. Now that my brother and I are older, and my parents have stopped running a free hostel for all of their friends and family, these treks don't happen often, but in my heart, Brookside Gardens bespeaks of wonderful Sundays of full bellies, gorgeous plants (that my mother would be plucking and putting into her purse), and carefree days. All that blissful Rockwell stuff out of the way.... Brookside Gardens is still fantastic. Hidden away behind busy Randolph and Georgia, it's definitely one of the hidden gems of MoCo. The sprawling acres contain 2 greenhouses, a visitor's center, and a plethora of walkways, gazebos and lakes. Even if you're not an outdoor plant lover (I'm not), there is just something serene and lovely about Brookside that makes you, literally, stop and smell the roses. A few quick key things: There are two parking lots at Brookside. The very first one you come to, will lead to the visitor's center. Although it's usually packed, remember that if you just sit around long enough, someone will be leaving. The second parking lot leads to the greenhouses. I don't like this parking lot as much, as it's harder to "circle around" in. Both parking lots are *WAY* too small for a place as big as Brookside - which is why this is a 4 star review, instead of a stellar 5 star. Finding parking can be a pain. There aren't any vending machines, so bring a bottle of water. You will be thirsty. Bring your camera. Even if you aren't a professional photographer, the gardens and plants here are so beautiful that you'll be able to take gorgeous photos with a simple point and shoot. If you are a student and have a photography project due soon (but don't have time in your busy drinking schedule to do it), come here and you'll have at least a B with very little effort. Ladies, I know you will be tempted to wear pretty dresses and cute little wedges and heels. DON'T. While there are numerous paved paths, the paths are still rather hilly and you *WILL* kill your feet. Unless you're like me, and have been wearing heels since you were 7, and have lost all feeling from the ankle down. In the spring, there are a ton of weddings held here. Please don't be a schmuck and ruin someone else's special occasion by intruding. If you want to watch (I admit, I do), stand a distance away, and get out of the wedding party's way, when they are doing photos. You would like the same courtesy for yourself. If you keep walking toward the south of Brookside, it will lead you to a gate that will lead you through a path, that will lead you into Wheaton Regional Park. This is a great trip if you have kids, because it's a semi-long walk, so it will definitely tire your kids out (which is a bonus, right???). On the west side of Brookside, there is a nature center. It's in the woods, and it's rather hidden, but I highly recommend it. It's quiet, calm and the nature center usually has a few animals that they are nursing or rehabilitating to be released by into the wild. read more

For those of you who know me quite well, you are now going to think you don't know me quite well. For not only was I present at Brookside Gardens during their Garden Lights Festival, but I was also here DURING THE IRON BOWL. This is a real world example that family (especially my three year old niece) is indeed greater than football to me. Of course, that didn't keep me from following the action live on my cell phone. This led to the following exchange with my Dad: "What's the name of this place again?" "27-14." (the score of the Iron Bowl at that point in time) Alabama football aside, the light festival here far exceeded my admittedly pedestrian expectations. You start by walking past a garden of lit "roses" and then find your way through a "caterpillar". Some of the more amazing lights involved a wolf howling at the moon, bees buzzing back to their hive, a weather display replete with sound effects, and a cute version of the Loch Ness Monster. I don't want to note everything that they have out there, but let's just say that it is enjoyable. I'd highly recommend a trip here during the Garden Lights Festival if you have young children. Chances are high that they will enjoy it. read more

Alright, there are a lot of reviews of this place telling you how beautiful the flowers are, and all that stuff. And this is all true. There is also a nice green house. But I am going to review this from a man's perspective. Boys, gather round. Why the hell you taking your girl to the movies or to dinner? Don't you know that stuff ain't free? Listen, nature is where it's at. Take her to Brookside Gardens. Walk around the place holding her hand. Kiss her under a big tree. Bring a small picnic and have it by the water (watch out for the goose crap of course). Fall asleep next to each other under some romantically overhanging branches. I am telling you this place is great and you will be making babies in no time. read more

I openly admit that I might be quite biased. I am a park police volunteer so I am here as often as I can make time for. I take a ton of walks through here and it's absolutely beautiful. I've also gotten some great scenery photos to use as my computer background and cover photo on Facebook! They have weddings here pretty regularly, which should tell you how nice it is. They have done a GREAT job on the parking lot remodeling. There are now more parking spots and it is much more stylish in design. The visitor center is informative and provides a good place to use the bathroom before or after a walk. The added bonus is that this facility is linked by walking trails to Wheaton Regional Park (through a gate in the park) and also to Brookside Nature Center. If you continue to walk on trails towards Kemp Mill Rd you can also access the Northwest Branch Trail. NW Branch is also referred to as the Rachel Carson Greenway. Garden of Lights is held in the winter around the holidays. Wings of Fancy is available for a good chunk of the year as well. There are children's activities and adult gardening glasses. Essentially this is like a beautiful piece of land, a community center and a wedding location all bundled into a nice package. Come out and enjoy what Montgomery Parks have to offer! And if you see a park volunteer be sure to say hi! read more

I have held 2 events at the Brookside Gardens Auditorium. Both were celebrations of life for my family. It is such a special venue. A beautiful space set in the spectacular gardens. Jennifer was incredibly helpful and throughout the whole process. She is so efficient, thoughtful and organized. Everything went so smoothly much thanks to her. read more

Beautiful place for weddings or parties. Ive been visiting since I was 17. I've had several photoshoots and attended other events here. Great place to work out or go on a nice quiet date. read more

To anyone who is interested in renting the facility for an event, rethink it (or good luck trying): I became engaged in September of 2014, and my fiancé and I have begun to search for locations to have our ceremony. After visiting the site, we both fell in love with it immediately, specifically the conservatory. According to their website, the rental fee for the Conservatory would be $950 for the first hour. Keep this in mind. May 26th: I called Brookside Gardens for the first time and was immediately directed to the event coordinator's voicemail. No one has ever answered the phone no matter what time of day I called them. I even called the second they were scheduled to open and was still forced to leave a voicemail. I left a message expressing my interest in renting the facility and went on about my day. June 28th: After two weeks went by, I called again and spoke to a Woman who gave me the event coordinator's email address. I sent the coordinator, Nora, an email expressing my interest. Three days later, she replies: "I could change the status from a wedding to a photo shoot and the fee for one hour is $350 but the ceremony would need to be either 9am to 10am or 5pm to 6pm. Let me know if you're interested." She also quoted me a different price in the email, $1750, which is not the price quoted on their website ($950). I could not confirm any information with them since all correspondence was being done by email, and quite frankly, it's an annoyance. The minute you answer one question, I think of three more. Then it's another waiting game of, "how many days will it take her to respond this time?" NO WHERE on the website does it list that the conservatory is $1720. How did the price mysteriously jump from $950 to $1750? I have only spoken to the coordinator once by phone as every other time I would call for her, she was in a meeting, not available, at lunch, or would be in the next day. Nora admitted that she was the only employee responsible for events due to budget cuts, which I understood and sympathized with. However, that was no longer an excuse at this point. I had now been given the run around for two months to no avail. No call backs, email responses came in spurts of three or more days, and not to mention, I wasn't asking for much. I wanted to know if the place was available for January and how I can rent it. That's literally all I asked for. Yesterday afternoon, I contacted Brookside Gardens one final time. I was very patient throughout this entire ordeal and wanted to give them one last chance. I spoke to a receptionist who was nice enough to provide me with the availability information and the cost. This could have been done in literally thirty seconds by the event coordinator, mind you. She informed me that Nora was not in, but another Woman, Ellen, was in a meeting and also handles the event coordinating, and would contact me once she was available. Now here's where I considered it to be the final straw. After getting in touch with Ellen, I mentioned the offer that Nora gave to me via email (which was to price the ceremony as a photo shoot, essentially allowing me to rent the conservatory for $350 instead of $950). She reluctantly agreed to honor it, however, there's a catch. She said it would depend upon whether I chose to have my guests standing, or seated. If standing, she would quote me the $350 for the rental. If not, she would charge an additional $400 to set up and take down the chairs. Keep in mind, my guest party is UNDER 25 PEOPLE. She essentially told me that it will take her employees an entire HOUR to set up and take down 20 CHAIRS, now making the $350 rental price jump to $750, for a set up of twenty chairs. I could set up twenty chairs myself in five minutes. At this point, I distrusted them and their wishy-washy pricing. Towards the end of the conversation, she stated that she would call me tomorrow (meaning today) in order to follow up and set up a time to come view the facility in order to finalize how the set up would go, and go over minor details. It's now 3PM. No call. Also, before we even discussed the deal Nora offered to me, she stated that rental pricing has changed as of July 1st, however they have not updated their website with the new prices. So for anyone who was hoping to get a good deal, think again. They've increased their prices exponentially and still haven't updated their website. I am no longer considering this location for my ceremony. Thankfully, we found a beautiful cottage in Virginia that we recently rented for our ceremony that is half the price and none of the headache. I've been less frustrated sitting in Virginia traffic than the immense irritation I have received throughout this process. Brookside Gardens is a beautiful place to visit. But renting it? Think again. read more

Perfectly lovely but so many wealthy snobs so if you're a smoker or your kid needs Theo stroller/wants to skateboard you'll hear it from someone bc those are against the rules. It's only a pain bc Wheaton regional park is a 600 meter? Walk away n people have park their kids scoters/ bikes before going into Brookside. Once saw people doing yoga in middle of grassy area n got/get te feeling people who walk Brookside are typical MoCo rich folk. If they felt a pinch of unease with your kids laughter they'd call the cops-lol. read more

This review is for their winter light display. They put on a wonderful, secular, nature-themed light display right around the holidays and extending through the early new year. They've got the whole garden decked out in lights, and the effect is simply amazing. There's easily 30 minutes of walking involved to see everything -- from the giant caterpillar to the Loch Ness Monster (and baby!) to the animated display of the four seasons complete with rain and thunder. Inside the conservatory there's a massive train display set up, too, which is nice as a place to warm up if it's cold outside. The kids were completely blown away and had a great time, even though it was pretty chilly out. Come early -- gates open at 5:30; it fills up quickly, and parking is limited. $15 per car, worth every cent. read more

Great park, beautiful in the fall, spring and in the summer when flowers are in bloom, and in the winter with holiday light display. Grounds are free, but some exhibits require payment. Beware that pets are not allowed in this park (probably because they don't want dogs urinating on plants and killing them). There are indoor restrooms and a gift shop. read more

Hidden gem near Wheaton. Tucked back in protected parkland, this treasure has beautiful outdoor gardens and a greenhouse with specialty plant varieties. They have regular exhibits to keep patrons returning and a cute gift shop. There is the Northwest Branch Trail a stones throw away if you want a full day of outdoor beauty. read more

I'm tempted to call this Park & Rec complex a hidden gem, as all you see from Georgia Ave or Randolph Rd are the standard drab brown directional signs. Tucked away behind a few blocks of houses there's a small version of the National Botanical Garden hothouse packed with meticulously labeled tropical plants, and a second greenhouse hosting the seasonal model train exhibit. One of the three train layouts featured the old DC Transit streetcars, with Glen Echo (including carousel and bumper cars!) at one end. The festival lights were not on during my daylight visit, but I could see where they would be worth seeing at night - maybe next year. Lots of wide trails winding through ponds and pavilions, and eventually at the top of the hill a dog park and ice rink. It's a serene layout for some light exercise when the sun is shining. I think when I come back in the Spring when the roses are in bloom they may get a fifth star. read more

Brookside Gardens - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Wheaton, Maryland

I generally don't care for nature or children running wild, much less a combination of those. However, Brookside gets even a grump like me to relax and enjoy the pretty plants. It helps that I love animals and there are plenty around. There are tons of turtles swimming in the ponds and I saw fuzzy baby duckies too. I tried to catch one of the big ducks but he honked threateningly at me so I left him alone. read more

I have a list things I'll do when I become a billionaire. Number 7 (or 8 or 9, or 6, still hammering out the order) is build a replica of Brookside Gardens in my gigantic county-sized backyard. I'm not sure who will take care of the maintenance yet, so for now I'll just enjoy the real thing. One of my fondest memories of Brookside is going there to take photos of rare plants for extra credit in a high school science class. It boosted my GPA, and even though we weren't supposed to stroll through a contained park photographing leaves (I guess the teacher expected us to actually travel around the country with our learner's permits or something), I did it anyway, and got an A+. Hahaha that teacher was a joke. Anyway... This is a place you can go when the weather's nice and there's nothing to do. It's the best when nobody's there, but since you can't blame anybody for wanting to be there, you can still find peace among kids running around and..I i think kids running around is the only complaint I might have. And again, I can't blame them (I was them). It's fun here. Makes you wanna run around like a damn crazy person, too. Be sure to stop at the memorial and have a quick moment of silent tribute to those lost in the sniper attacks. Have a walk around the mandala in the grassy area and contemplate cool stuff, like life and stuff. Allergy nerds: bring your meds read more

It's nice I guess. There's a lot of prettier places that are a little further but worth the drive. I would suggest you go to those places, but if not then that's okay to. So basically this place is average at best. :) read more

I'm not an outdoors kinda gal but I love this place. I love the peaceful environment. In the spring when all the plants and flowers are blooming it's a magical time. So beautiful. Just puts you in a good mood. Even with the extensive construction there is still a a lot of trails and little sitting areas to enjoy. The fragrance garden is one of my favorite places to be. They have a pond full of koi fish and turtles. They also have a conservatory which closes earlier than the outdoor gardens so check the hours of operation. Right now parking is quite limited due to the on going construction. I Found it better to go later in the afternoon. The conservatory was closed but we spent several hours walking the grounds. During the holidays they have the Festival of Lights. It's beautiful to see the gardens lit up and snow covered. So tranquil and peaceful. All year round you will find Brookside Gardens enjoyable. read more

See all

I don't frequent gardens very much, but I always find myself a huge fan whenever I'm at one. It was odd to think that in the suburban town of Wheaton lies this gem of a place. As odd as it was, Brookside Gardens was beautiful. Admission is free, and it is a great place to walk around on a nice day. Or on a cloudy day, if that's your thing. Also, they have a nice little Japanese teahouse and a tribute to the 2002 sniper attacks. I found myself spending some time there reflecting on past events, and appreciating life and everything I have. There are also plenty of gardens - Japanese-style Gude Garden, Children's Garden, Perennial Garden, to name a few. Brookside Gardens is quite big, and you can easily spend a few hours here. Needless to say, I went on a ridiculously hot day, and I barely lasted an hour. That is not to say I did not have a good time; I will be back if the weather is a bit cooler/I am more hydrated/dressed properly. For those looking to get away from the city without driving too far, Brookside Gardens is a nice retreat. read more

How many places can you go these days that are completely free (aside from the gas it takes to drive there, of course) that are actually worth going to/seeing? Brookside Gardens is one of mine and my family's favorite place to spend a few hours together. There are many different types of gardens ranging from a kids-themed garden, a scent garden, to a rose garden and aquatic garden. The variety of trees, flowers, and other plants are pretty amazing. One of my favorite things about Brookside Gardens is that it is completely different each visit throughout the year. I have seriously been to this place a dozen or more times and have seen something new each time. So if you're looking for something free, relaxing, enjoyable, and family-friendly, Brookside Gardens is the place to go! read more

We love spending the afternoons wandering around Brookside Gardens - it's beautiful in all seasons but summer is a great time to check out the wings of fancy butterfly exhibit! Lots of butterflies and caterpillars to see plus educational exhibits about them. Also as you go deeper into the gardens, there is a nice lake with geese and turtles as well as a children's garden. read more

See all

What's not to like about a beautiful park tucked away in Wheaton? I remember coming here as a child with my family... I remember seeing beautiful brides taking wedding pictures with the beautiful scenery. My most recent trips were slightly disappointing. The gardens didn't seem as beautiful and wondrous as I remembered them, but I still enjoy going for a nice stroll when I'm in the area. read more

My favorite time to o to brookside is in the winter when they do the lights. But I've recently decided I love coming here on warmer days. It's a little gem close to Wheaton. read more

About 8 months ago I moved to Silver Spring from PG county and have been in love with the area ever since. Simply put, everything about Montgomery county is just better. BUT the one thing I found myself missing about PG was the walking trail at National Harbor. I used to walk there every day during the nice weather months and try as I may I just couldn't find a trail out this end that could top it. I got so desperate a few times, that I considered driving the 40 minutes down to the Harbor just for old times sake. After realizing how much gas that would waste I quickly dismissed that idea. I even tried the gym in my building, but I'm an outdoorsman, always have always will be. I've been to Brookside gardens a few times, and many moons ago considered having my wedding there, but never was I aware of any walking trails. I thought it was just beautiful gardens and ponds. Yesterday I decided to venture out and walk outside since the weather was so nice. I headed down to the gardens intent on just walking around for a few minutes and leaving. When I got there I came upon a trail that snaked around the entire grounds and boy oh boy was I happy! After 8 mos I've finally found a trail that is comparable to National Harbor! The grounds are gorgeous, lots of people, lots of families and all and all just a place with really good energy! So long National Harbor, you've been replaced! read more

Went to Brookside Gardens with my in-laws for the Christmas lights this year... we had an amazing time! My in-laws have been coming for years but this was a first for me. The Christmas light display was spectacular and walking through the gardens was a once in a lifetime experience. My fiancé and I are planning a trip back with our nieces in the spring and I can't wait. I've heard it's beautiful in the spring/summer and I definitely recommend going around Christmas time for the lights alone. read more

when i was in second grade, my then-best friend and i used to get her mom to take us to brookside gardens nearly every week for after-school, so we could go traipsing through the gardens, pretending we were fairies. over the next years, i'd go to brookside gardens only at christmas time, to walk through their twinkling, snow-covered winter wonderland scenes. but i hadn't been back in many moons, until this weekend when i attended a wedding in the oh-so enchanting fragrance garden. teeming with lilies, geraniums, and many other flowers i couldn't name, the fragrance garden is a little slice of heaven: exquisite, alluring, and of course, fragrant. i watched with tears in my eyes as my oldest friend said her nuptials in a flowery oasis fit for a fairy. butterflies flitted around, blessing the day, and the sun sparkled on all the well-wishers. the reception in their atrium was fantastic, and while only she could report back on the prices, i will say that the wedding was seamless, and the spaces elegant and refined. i think any bride and groom would be happy to say their vows in this floral paradise. read more

See all

A well-maintained landscape offering: Green grass Water features Asian Garden Fall Foliage Benches Easy parking Butterflies, bees, birds, turtles, squirrels and rabbits. What more do you want, for free no less? read more

i love this serene place. the butterfly exhibit is worth every cent. :) for 5 bucks you get to walk into a well kept garden where you can watch or photograph hundreds of colorful butterflies as they fly everywhere. read more

See all

Beautiful gardens with plenty to see and wide open spaces to walk. Wish there were some more areas to picnic, but that is kinda how they keep it so beautiful I suppose. read more

I'm insane and afraid of all things insect, so I'd never gone to a butterfly exhibit before. But I kept hearing how wonderful Wings of Fancy was, so I decided to try and take my daughter there this year. It was absolutely beautiful and we had a lovely visit. We started with the butterfly exhibit and she and her friends had a great time looking at all the different colors and sizes of butterflies that flitted all around, landing on beautiful flowers, and even once or twice on us. Afterwards, we explored the gardens themselves. Pretty fountains, rose gardens, and a tiny children's garden. Not very much to see or do in the children's garden, so then we walked up to a large gazebo over by the turtle pond. We enjoyed seeing many turtles, fish, and geese before heading back to visit the butterflies once more before our departure. read more

See all

I have been here for the Garden of Lights during the holiday season and during the spring/summer months when everything is in bloom. Each time I have loved my visit. The Garden of Lights is by far the best walking tour of holiday lights I have experienced. Lots of variety and creative animals/creatures to see. Parking can be tough during that time of year so be patient getting in. During the spring and summer this place is gorgeous in a different way. All the stuff in bloom may wreak havoc on my allergies but it's all so beautiful! Definitely worth a visit. read more

Winter light show...busy and beautiful. Dragons and dragonflies, butterflies and a rainbow with clouds and lightening. ..all in lights. Lots more to see...will take my grandkids next year! read more

Nice during the day (just watch out for geese poop). But the main motivation for this review is for the holiday lights. The lights are set-up very creatively resulting in an enjoyable experience to walk through. Get there early as the parking line forms right when they're open! read more

Always a pleasure being here. A very nice variety of walkways. I am so happy to be so close to this gem.

I would give Brookside Gardens 5 stars if it wasn't for the renovation and construction that is going on right now. About a quarter of the garden is shutdown while this is occurring, but I will update my review when it is complete. This is a great place to go running and walking. It is open to the public from dawn until dusk and accessible from Wheaton Regional Park. The paved trail through the Garden is a 0.8 mile loop and is fairly level with few changes in elevation, so it is low impact. Watch out for the goose poop, as there are flocks of Canada Geese that seem to congregate here. It's not anyone's fault but apart from that, the trail and garden are meticulously maintained by the staff. The indoor garden is beautiful, but I've yet to check out the butterfly exhibit. A visit to here is highly recommended. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE!! I have to come back with my family. It's gorgeous and the most peaceful place I've been in awhile. It reminded me of the zen gardens in Hawaii without the abundance of tropical plants but the foliage here is just as colorful and in the spring is probably the most beautiful time to come. It's a great experience for kids on field trips too. We came here with the kids for a field trip and they learned the parts of a plant, how they get fertilized, how to make a seed bomb, and learned the monarch butterfly's stages and migration patterns! It's a wonderful place and I guarantee you will love it here! :) I will definitely be coming back! Hopefully sooner than later. read more

See all

I am going to start with the rest of the park and build up to the gardens. Outside the gardens, there is a big play area for children including little animal sculptures. It's usually crazy packed on a nice day so it's a good family place. The merry-go-round is decent, but not as thrilling as the Glen Echo Park one. Word to the wise, the 5K is not up to standards. They don't separate the runner's trail and walker's trail so you're not only dodging people who walk their dogs, but it's also soooo hilly! Not for novices. But goes to a great cause (the local animal sanctuary) so maybe it's worth the discomfort? Nooooow, the gardens. Boy are they gorgeous. So many lovely spots and sites to see. Even in the winter, the greenhouses are spectacular. There's even a little labyrinth which, by the way, is used for meditation... not racing excitable little children. Don't miss the butterfly exhibit. Ever been to a butterfly exhibit and been disappointed because no butterfly would land on you? Well, they will here! There are plenty of gorgeous butterflies all alighting around you. It was a magical experience. This place is amazing. I will get married there someday I hope,,, read more

Beautiful gardens and grounds. We chose Brookside gardens for our engagement photo shoot. Easy registration process and and affordable fees. Our first choice, the National Arboretum wanted much more! Also friendly staff onsite. read more

This place is so pretty. I when here to take pictures for my 15th birthday and I love how they came out. I also have high school memories of my friends and I lying down on the grass and talking to each other in till the sun goes down. This is definitely a place where you can relax and watch the world pass by. read more

5 stars + for beauty. I have been many times and it is always gorgeous! 5 stars + for kid-friendly. There is a kids garden with a boat, tractor made from logs and a kitchen. There is a lot of open green space for kids to play, rocks to jump off of and it is a short walk to Wheaton Regional Park's playground. There are a bunch of turtles and fish to watch and most everything is easily accessible with a stroller. 1 star for bathroom accessibility. If you are there after 5:00 (and yes, the gardens are open after 5) and you have to go to the bathroom... forget about it! Even when the facility is open for an event, the bathroom police will not let you in. Unfortunately, this one little thing is a big deal for me because I have young kids. I'm also planning a wedding and was seriously considering Brookside, but I won't consider them until this issue is fixed. If you are open, have bathroom facilities available. read more

I've lived in the same neighborhood for 40 years and raised our children to appreciate the trails, streams and mini lakes, the nature center, the sports fields and ice rinks of Wheaton Park. But for myself the joy of the area is the glory of Brookside Gardens, a beautiful 50 acre public garden set in Montgomery County which boasts aquatic areas, walking trails and a variety of ornamental plants and trees changing with the season. Today, as a break from lockdown, my daughter and I walked the garden. The azaleas were just blooming, the acres of tulips were at their peak, the daffodils and narcissi were just fading and many trees like the Redbud were still covered in glorious purple. Oh what a superb antidote to being stalked by a killer virus. read more